THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 341 



merits are suggestive. The handling of seed potatoes in such manner 

 as to secure strong, stocky sprouts before the tubers are planted out 

 is shown to be an important factor in increasing both the earliness 

 and the total yield of the crop. By planting only well-sprouted seed, 

 a full stand is assured. 



One of the objections to this method of growing potatoes is the 

 large amount of space required for exposing the tubers to the light 

 for sprouting. This objection has been overcome in part by the use 

 of trays and racks. At the Rhode Island Station the rack used held 

 9 trays. Each tray was 3% feet long and 1^2 feet wide, and would 

 hold about 1 bushel of potatoes when spread out in a single layer 

 for sprouting. The bottoms of the trays were made of pieces of 

 lath placed about 1 inch apart. Nine trays were placed in a rack 

 over each other, leaving about 9 inches of space between each tray. 

 This method of arrangement has the advantage of securing a very 

 uniform distribution of light, heat, and air for all the trays. It 

 greatly facilitates the handling of the potatoes and lessens the danger 

 of breaking off the sprouts and transferring to the field for planting. 



Another method of securing early potatoes in Rhode Island on a 

 commercial scale is that of sprouting tubers in a cold frame and 

 planting out as soon as danger of frost is past. The tubers are cut 

 into pieces, not smaller than an English walnut, after rejecting the 

 two or three eyes nearest the stem end, which have been found to 

 start late. The pieces are placed side by side in the bed, skin side 

 upward, and covered about 4 inches deep with fine, rich earth. 

 Their growth can be controlled by proper regulation of the cold- 

 frame sash. At planting time the tubers, the sprouts of which 

 should be just breaking tne surface of the soil, are carefully lifted 

 with manure forks, separated by hand, and placed in well-fertilized 

 rows, and entirely covered with soil ; or, if danger of frost is past, they 

 are placed with the apex of the sprout just at the surface of the soil. 

 About 216 square feet of cold frame is required to sprout sufficient 

 potatoes to plant an acre in 30 to 32 inch rows, 12 inches apart. Eight 

 men can transplant an acre in a day. 



On the Island of Jersey, where early potatoes are raised in large 

 quantities for the London market, the potatoes destined for seed 

 are placed side by side in shallow boxes and stored, as soon as cold 

 weather sets in, in a light and well-sheltered loft or shed, out of 

 danger of frost. The position of the boxes is changed from time 

 to time so that the sprouts will be of equal length and strength at 

 the planting season. Medium-sized tubers selected from the best 

 of the crop and allowed to lie in the field in the fall until they become 

 greenish are used. 



Potatoes on Western Irrigated Farms. With thorough cultiva- 

 tion, for potatoes planted the first of May, irrigation is seldom neces- 

 sary until July. Generally speaking irrigation water is cold and it 

 is highly important not to irrigate too frequently, since the water 

 not only causes the soil to run together but lowers the temperature 

 to a point that is not favorable to the growth of potatoes. Irrigation 

 water is applied only when the condition of the plants indicates that 



